The Walter Syndrome

by Richard Neely

A psychotic killer has the city in a grip of terror. And, although readers will think they know who the killer is and why he kills, the climax is so shocking, "there's (only) one chance in a thousand you'll guess the ending" (Chicago Sun-Times).

Genres: Fiction, Horror, Mystery

207 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Like a lot of American pulp authors, Richard Neely started out a newspaperman. He then embarked on a successful career in advertising before turning to crime writing in his 50s. In 14 years he produced 15 novels.

Reviews

[Matt Neely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure. The author is my grandfather. One of his better pulp fictions. Scary phone rings.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was absolute garbage and it was blatantly obvious by page 10 what exactly was going on and what the big reveal would be at the end. While I understand the time the story is set in and the psyche of the characters involved, the author’s writing regarding women was absolutely disgusting and beyond misogynistic. He also at one point in the story seemed to idolize and hero worship Adolph Hitler which is highly concerning to me even if it was for character purposes. One of the most unappetizing things I’ve ever read but I stuck with it wanting to see if there was more of a twist than what I was able to discern within the first 10 pages. There wasn’t. What’s even more disturbing to me though is the fact that he writes so abhorrently and full of hate about women throughout the whole book and then dedicates the story to his wife. I bought it off my local library for a dime and even that was too much for this piece of crap. I will not read again and would not recommend to anyone else either. And I think someone should check and make sure his wife is ok.

[Becca Younk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this solely because it's the book Elizabeth Taylor's character in Identikit carries around with her. I can definitely see why this book was picked, because it's about a man who wants to murder women. The twist is pretty easy to see, yet still kind of clunky. And it goes on with the journalist for a little too long. But it was entertaining enough.

[Bev]

The description says that the book will "leave even the most blase reader transfixed." Um. No. Disgusted? Yes. Not wanting to finish? Yes. Unable to believe how awful the book is? Yes. Transfixed? No. Not even in a "deer in the headlights" kind of way. This one rates a half star--only because something about it MUST have made me pick it up and start to read it. Can't remember what that was, though.

[John Marr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting '70s take on the serial killer novel complete with displays of misogyny that haven't lost their shock power. Although the surprise ending is not to the jaded, the plentiful twists and turns make for far better reading than many better remembered authors. I'm sending a library page to retrieve another one of Neely's books from the basement stacks ASAP!

[Kyle Trimper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Synopsis: In late 1930s New York City, unassuming, unfortunate ad salesman Lambert Post trudges through life unobserved, until he meets Charles Walter, a charming, commanding personality. When Walter starts taking bloody revenge on those who have harmed Lambert Post, New York finds itself plagued with a brutal, unpredictable serial rapist and murderer.

Review: even though I predicted the trumpeted twist ending 2 pages in, I still found this slice of period pulp-fiction mystery entertaining. It's a quick read, well-written in that it is not clunky or dull, containing just enough sex and violence to titillate the reader without turning into a gorefest. The killer, our "protagonist", is a somewhat three-dimensional character, with just enough insight into his motivation given for the reader to be both sympathetic and revolted. As the saying goes, it's not Shakespeare, but it's certainly not a poor read.

[Mark Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book 20 years ago and at the time I thought it was the best book I had ever read. I have tracked down a copy and I have just read it twice, and yes it is very very clever.

This story is not for the faint-hearted, it is a murder mystery, about a serial killer.

The author skillfully transports the reader to 1930's New York, and times before DNA, mobile phones and other such matters that makes you wonder how crimes ever used to be solved.

Somewhat surprised this was not made into a movie. Perfect as is, alternatively scriptwriters could modernise or expand on the twists.

Loved this book.

[Marcos Bucciarelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Síndrome fatal,
de Richard Neely.

Reseña.

Es increíble como de no habérsele ocurrido a unos japoneses hacer un videojuego y nombrar algunas calles de su ciudad ficticia con apellidos de escritores, quizás nunca me haya topado con Richard Neely. Si bien me costó mucho encontrar información sobre él (no ayudó que Wikipedia diera resultados sobre otra persona con el mismo nombre), pude dar con tres libros traducidos al español. Hoy les vengo a hablar del primer contacto que tuve con el autor, y el por qué seguiré leyéndolo.

Todo comienza con dos polos opuestos que se unen: un retraído social y un hombre que rebosa de carisma. La eficiencia laboral los lleva a realizar pequeñas bromas, y lo que en un momento parece que evoluciona a broma pesada, se convierte en una afrenta personal. Y ese será el tono con el que, a través de los distintos puntos de vista de los personajes, la novela irá creciendo a un ritmo vertiginoso.

Si, hay varios puntos de vista donde nos adentramos en las mentes del desgraciado, el perpetrador, y el investigador. Desde el primer segundo sabemos quién ocupa cada uno de estos roles, por lo que no hay misterio en cuanto a quién es el culpable, ya que el mismo libro nos lo muestra en primera plana llevándonos de la mano. Sin embargo, sabemos que hay algo más allá de las tres personalidades, y mientras el caso dentro del libro se basa en el “quién”, para nosotros los lectores se centra en el “qué”.

Constantemente la novela nos plantea dos líneas paralelas, y el cómo lo desarrolla, es simplemente maravilloso. El débil y el fuerte. La víctima y su vengador personal. Dos caras que se contraponen, pero que se complementan tanto que uno no puede existir sin el otro. Ambos lados se necesitan, surgiendo así la dualidad entre querer hacer lo correcto, pero estar atado por la necesidad de tener como aliado a alguien tan peligroso.

Es cierto que el giro final no sorprende para nada, e incluso se ve venir desde muy lejos, pero este es uno de esos libros que brillan más por la construcción y los hechos que por su resolución. Que por cierto, si bien es predecible, eso no le quita que sea magnífica.

Conclusión:
Puntaje técnico: 4,5⭐
Puntaje sentimental: 4,8⭐

[alejaaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

aaaaaahhhh. me lo empecé a leer por la única y exclusiva razón de que me vi la peli Identikit hace dos días y me consumió tanto que la añadí a mi top 20 y decidí leerme el libro que la protagonista llevo con ella toda la película. NUNCA entendí el motivo de por qué habían tantos planos que se dedicaban a mostrar el libro y lo orgullosa que estaba la prota de llevarlo como PARTE de ella, así que evidentemente lo busqué y leerlo me cambio toda la visión y entendimiento que tuve de la película. Lise en toda la peli está en busca de un hombre, y no para tener sexo con ella (de hecho dice "I CAN'T STAND BEING TOUCHED" y aaah me recordó de una a mi amor (yo) Anna de Possession) en fin necesita un hombre para asesinarla. este impulso tanatótico y su claro estado de estar al borde del colapso me hizo amarla de inmediato. pero y que tenía que ver el libro "The Walter Syndrome" con el que posa frente a un espejo y nunca suelta???? PUES I'D BE DAMMED, que claramente toda la psique de Lise se basa en el protagonista de ESTE libro, Charles Walter, que en realidad siempre fue Lambert fucking Post, un esquizofrénico que vivió en dos identidades paralelas, la de la víctima y su vengador, dos polos totalmente opuestos, pero que se complementan tanto que uno no puede existir sin el otro. mi punto es que son la misma persona, lo que me lleva a preguntarme, en la peli acaso existió ese hombre que asesinó a Lise? o finalmente fue un suicidio desde su perspectiva de una personalidad alterada?
tengo como obligación leerme la novela en la que estuvo adaptada LA película porque otherwise no podré dormir.

pero bueno hablando de el libro como tal: fue muy absorbente, odio a los hombres, amé las descripciones de las escenas del crimen, me gustó mucho el desarrollo de los personajes mediante líneas paralelas de narración, odio a los hombres, y quedé atónita con el plot twist, ah Y los HOMBRES con mommy issues siempre serán las cosas más patéticas de este planeta. #all-incels-should-castrate-and-kill-themselves-if-you're-an-incel-accept-it-all-women-find-you-repulsive-use-that-razor-on-your-own-throath-and-do-everyone-a-favour.
🎀

[Frank Jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn if this isn't one sick story! Published in 1970, I'm pretty sure if it were reviewed now reviewers would feel compelled to list "trigger warnings" about the sick shit that is perpetuated by the killer involves. Richard Neely, like many noir/pulp writers, had worked in journalism, and the milieu for this story is in fact set in the offices of The New York Journal. It's a hard-boiled story, but with none of the cliched hard-boiled dialogue.

It's a period piece in that while written in the late 60s, the story is set in 1938 and period references to Mayor LaGuardia and other celebs from that era make for cultural interest. Neely wrote Shattered which is the only other book I've read by him (it was also made into a film in 1991) and from other sources I've read, it seems he's into writing fairly complex web-like narratives with twists upon twists. In the case of The Walter Syndrome, the 'surprise' reveal is pretty damn obvious about 1/4 the way through. Though, from the reader reviews at Amazon, it seems a lot of readers were actually surprised the the "shocking twist ending." The evidence of Neely's artistry is that figuring out what was going on so early in the book did not at all detract from my interest in reading the rest of the story. His writing is that compelling!

If you're squeamish about slasher-type murders, you might want to skip this one, but if you are a fan of pulp noir, and haven't read this one, you owe it to yourself to read it. It's spawned many that have followed the narrative trajectory.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the 'twist' in this book seemed obvious from almost the beginning, This was a well written page turner for me. Definitely one of the better crime/pulp/murder novels I have read in a while. I enjoyed it even though the murders were somewhat grisly...the plot raced along and after starting the book on a snowy afternoon, I find myself about 24 hours later wishing I had a few move novels by Neely to pour over.

[Cinnamon Whaley · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're familiar with Fight Club, the "twist" is evident within about 20 pages. I kept reading to see if that was, indeed, the twist and it seemed to be. No other twists to be found. Still a page turning pulp with great character development and depiction of NYC in the 1930s. As someone else pointed out, the writing is rough toward women...If written today, could be titled "An Incel Gone Too Far."

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: a psychotic killer has the city in a grip of terror. Two women don't take to Charles Walter and he turns to reprisal.

[Bob Box · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read in 1972. Don't remember this one.

[Bent Andreassen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in Danish a long time ago. Good novel. 4 minus or so.

[Lauren Dick · Rating 3 out of 5]

More murdery than I had hoped, based on?? not sure where I picked this up or why. I figured out the twist pretty early but still didnt understand the last paragraph.

Going in the donate bin

[Falina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't that interested in it until the end, when it had a great twist. The title also made sense at the end.